Improved rudder with corrugated surfaces



UNITED STATES dPATENT OFFICE.

sAMUEL J. sEELY, oE'NE'w YORK, N. Y.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 46, [47, dated January31, 1865.

.T0 a/ZZ whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, SAMUEL J. SEELY, of the city, county, and State ofNew York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Rndders, and Ido hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription of the construction and operation of the same, referencebeing had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification,in which- Figure l is a side view of a rudder having one modification ofmy improvement attached. Fig. 2 is a section through the line :t w ofFig. 4. Fig. 3 is a back view of Vthe rudder, and Fig. 4L is a side viewof a rudder with its corrugations at an angle different from those shownin Fig 1.

It is the object of my invention to give to rudders an increased area ofsurface without increasing their dimensions, and such a form as tosecure the greatest resistance within any given area ofresistingsurface; and to this end my invention consists in corrugatingthe sides of the rudder, and in placing these corrugations in anyrelation to or at any desired angle to the rudder-stock which experiencemay demonstrate will give the greatest resistance to the varied currentsthrough which ships may navigate.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use Iny invention, Iwill proceed' to describe its construction and operation.

l build my rudder in any of the approved modes, and usually of wood, theparts being united in the most approved manner to secure the utmoststrength of the materials and of any desired form of outline. The sidesofthe blade are corrugated from the stock to the heel with parallelcorrugations A, to increase the area ot' the bearing-surface againstwhch the water is to exert its pressure, and these corrugations may beplaced at any angle desired to the stock of the rudder, although thoseshown in Figs. l and 2 will, it is be, lieved, be found effectual. Thesecorrugations may be made of any size suitable to the proper thickness ofthe rudder. After the eorrugations are formed of the size and in thedirections desired on the wooden surfaces of the sides of the blade ofthe rudder, (care being taken to so form them that their projections anddepressionsshall truly register, as shown at B, Fig- 3,) the wholesurface may be sheathed with any desired sheet metal, 'and thissheathing may be securely fastened by nails or throughbolts c, whichwillfelamp and hold securely in place the metal sheathing and cause itto cover neatly and smoothly in every part all the corrugations over thewhole surface of the blade, when the sides of the rudder will have theappearance shown in Figs. l and 4. After the sides have received theirsheathing the back edge of the rudder mayalso be covered with copper orother sheet metal, as shown in Fig. 3, and securely fastened by theordinary sheathingnails. The rudder-stock may also be similarlysheathed.

My invention, it is obvious, may be applied at little cost to any oftheknown forms ot' rudders now in use by forming the corrugationson theirsides, either by fastening a series of ribs of the proper curvaturethereto in the proper angle and sheathing them properly, or by sinkingproper grooves therein at the angle desired and sheathingl the parts, as

hereinbefore described. It is likewise obvious that the corrugations maybe made perpendicularly on the blade or parallel to the rudder-stock,and that rudders entirely ot' metal may be made in the form desired. Forsmaller craft a single corrugated sheet may used. Vhen metal alone isused, I prefer to have two sheets to form the blade, and interpose corkor some equivalent buoyantmaterial between them, and secure the blade ona tubular stock likewise filled with buoyant material. The corrugations,moreover, may be made in curved or wave lines on the blade withoutdeparting from the spirit of my invention.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent ofthe United States, is-f Gorrugating the sides of the blade of rud ders,substantially in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my naine.

SAML. J. SEELY.

Witnesses WM. D. BALDWIN, EDM. F. BROWN.

